Collapsible display receptacle



COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY REGEPTACLE Filed June 21, 1941 CHA@S J @Acc/v. INVENTOR.

A TTOR/VYS Patented May 19, 1942 UMTED @STATES PATENT GFFICE i v COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY RECEPTACLE Charles J. Bacon, Brooklyn, N; Y. A l Application Junev 21, 1941, Seriall No.1,399-,100 6 Claims. (Cl. 24 8 -174) Thisinvention relates to improvements in display receptacles and more specifically to collapsible cardboard display floor bins of the kind set forth in my prior Patent No. 2,080,105 granted May 11, 1937. Y @j Y 5 vOne of the main features of the invention* as distinguished from the cylindrical and rectangular display receptacle set forth in my prior Vpatent above referred to, is to providea-collapsible half-round display receptacle which may be l0 atly placed against a Wall or other -iiat surface and project therefrom to impart a cylindrical appearance without taking up the floor space required by a full round display.

Another feature of the invention resides in a l5 half round display receptacle in which-the semicylindrical body may contain displayadvertising indicia for merchandise put up in cylindrical cans or packages, the advertising display being a replica of that on the can, Whereas cans or pack- 20 ages of the merchandise may be stacked in the receptacle or placed thereinrin jumble fashion for convenience of the sales clerk or for the customer when the display receptacle.V and merchandise are displayed in self-service stores and super-markets. Y

A further feature of the invention is -to provide a cardboard display'bin which is simple and inexpensive of manufacture, which collapses flat to facilitate compact storing and shipping of the 30 same; which may be easily and quickly set up ""J for use; andwhich when set up, is strong and rigid to support the load of articles of merchandise placed therein. Y

Other novel features of the invention will be-35 come apparent as the specification is read in con- .junction with the accompanying drawing, in

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the display receptacle in collapsed position..

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank from which the shelf and body bracing member is formed.

Referring to the drawing b-y reference char` acters, the numeral l0 designatesthe cardboard display receptacle or bin in its entirety which `includes a at rectangular shaped rear Wall Il preferably of corrugated cardboard, although itms in Figures 1 tio-3 inclusive.

vmay be of any other rigid cardboard if so desired.` The front wall l2 is constructed of a single blank of stiff flexible cardboard which blank ldistance from the hinge scores 13-13 to provide articulate end panel sections IS--IG and a main front wall panel I1 which enables the front wall structure'in its entirety to fold fiat against the rear wall when the display receptacle is collapsed as shown in Figure l` and which permits the distending or unfolding of the front wall into forwardly bowed semi-circular shape as illustra-ted A cardboard reinforcinglstrip I8 'is Vglued ork otherwise secured to-the inside of the front Wall I2 along the top l and bottom marginal edges thereof to reinforce the same, thejsaid strip being slit in alinement with the0 hinge"scores' I5,'l5fto facilitate free folding of' the VV'fronti'wall4 along the said hinge score's.,` Y

For distending, bracing, and holding the front vwall l2 under tension in semi-circular form, I

. erence to the blank illustrated in Figure 5. The

member I9 is cut to providejsemi-circular shaped upper shelf panel 2B, a lower like semi-,circular shaped base panel-2l, and an elongated connectingV panel 22 integrally connected to Ythe mid portion of the .curved edges of the panels 2l] and 2l along hinge scores 23 and 24 respectively.

VAlsorintegrally connected vto the panels 2D and 2l and foldable relativetheretoon hinge scores 25 and 26 respectively are attaching flaps 2l and 28 respectively. The attaching flaps 2l and 28 are of a length v approximating the width of the rear Wall Il to which they arerglued or otherwise secured tothe inside thereof. 'Ihe flap 2l is secured to the rear wall IlY a substantial disltance from the top` edge thereof, whereas the flap 28 is secured adjacent the bottom edge of the rear wall. VThe shelf panel 20 is provided 'with a nger hole 2S adjacent .the score v23.

When the display receptacle is in `setup position for use, the upper panel 2liy provides a shelf as Well as a brace for the upper portion of the half-round structure andA is supported in a horizontal positionby horizontal cardboard stops 30-30 carried by the inner side of thefront wall |2 at spaced distances from the vertical mid portion thereof and beyond the plane of the vertical side edges of the connecting panel 22 so as not to be in the path of the panel 22 when the same is in bracing engagement with the front wall.

Each stop 30 comprises a single length of stiff cardboard folded transversely adjacent its ends on hinge scores to provide a foldable body portion 3| and attaching end flaps 32. The flaps 32 fold inwardly relative to the body portion 3| and are glued or otherwise secured to the inner side of the front wall I2. The stops 30 are secured at a plane so that the top edges are disposed on the same horizontal plane as the hinge score connection between the panel 20 and attaching flap 21. When the display receptacle ||l `is collapsed, the body portions 3| of the stops fold substantially flat against the inner side of the front wall |2, but when the width of the front wall is foreshortened by distending into semi-circular shape, the length of the body portions 3| of the stops are fore-shortened to cause them to bulge inwardly away from the front wall and provide rigid supporting stops on which the free front portion of the shelf panel 20 may be supported in a substantially horizontal position well below the top edges of the rear and front walls to provide a bin or compartment at the top of the display stand.

The display receptacle I is stored and shipped in collapsed Yfolded position as illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the rear wall front wall |2, panels 2U and 2|, and connecting panel strip 22 are substantially parallel, the panels and 2| having been swung upward on the hinge scores 23 and 24 respectively. The display receptacle when collapsed is substantially nat to facilitate compact storing and shipment,` however, when it is delivered to a store by a distributor for displaying articles of merchandise, it is unfolded in a simple and expeditious manner. The operator grasps the top front edge of the front wall l2 with one hand and pulls forwardly thereon and simultaneously presses downward upon the front portion of the folded upper shelf panel 20. As the shelf panel 20 moves downward the connecting panel strip 22 likewise causes the lower panel 2| to move-down, whereupon the curved edges of said panels are brought into pressing engagement with the innner side of the front wall I2, which pushes the front wall outwardly against its normal tendency to flatten out. When the shelf panel 20 reaches a substantially horizontal position and seats on the stops 3|J-30, the front wall |2 is fully distended into a forwardly bulged semi-circular shape and is held in such position under tension by the bracing panels 20 and 2l, and connecting strip panel 22. The display container is now in complete rigid set up position as shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, and the space 'between the upper shelf panel 20 and the top edges of the semi-cylindrical body constitutes a bin or compartment 33 in which merchandise to be displayed may be arranged in stacked or piled jumble fashion. The flat rear wall may be placed against a wall, counter, or otherfiat structure, so that the front of the display receptacle projects therefrom, and when viewed from the front, imparts the appearance of a full round display. It will of course be understood that the exterior of the front wall |2 may contain advertising indicia appropriate for the particular merchandise placed on display within the bin or compartment 33. The load placed in the bin or compartment 33 is directly supported by the shelf panel 20 and the same may be reinforced by a similar shaped reinforcing piece of cardboard 34 which is glued or otherwise secured to the underside thereof. The grain of the cardboard piece 34 preferably runs at an angle relative to the grain of the panel 20 to increase the strength of the bottom wall of the bin or compartment 33. Whereas the shelf panel 20 directly supports the load placed thereon, the stops 30--30 relieve the weight of the load from the connecting strip panel 22.

To collapse the display receptacle from a set up position, an operator inserts his index finger throughthe finger hole 29 and pulls upwardly on the upper panel 20, whereupon the tension on the front wall |2 is released and the front wall moves toward the rear wall and the parts assume the position shown in Figure 4.

Whereas I have mentioned the' display receptacle for use as a floor display, it will be understood that the same may be made relatively small for counter or table display purposes if so desired. i A

In instances where a full round display receptacle is desired, two of the half round display receptacles I0 may be placed back-to-back and secured by staplng or by clips to secure them together.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes in design and structural details as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A collapsible display receptacle comprising a flat rigid rectangular rear wall, a normally flat flexible cardboard rectangular front wall of a width greater than the width of the rear wall, hinge connecting means connecting the side ends of the front wall to the corresponding ends of the `rear wall, apair of semi-circular shaped bracing panels hingedly connected to the inner side of the rear wall in spaced apart relation, a brace panel having its ends respectively hingedly connected to the free edges of the semi-circular shaped panels whereby swinging movement'of the semi-circular shaped panels to a substantially horizontal position will cause said panels and the connecting brace panel to forcibly engage the front wall and iiex the front wall to a forwardly bowed shape under tension and frictionally hold the same under such tension.

2. A collapsible display receptacle comprising a at rigid rectangular rear wall, a normally vflat rectangular flexible cardboard front wall of a width greater than the width of the rear wall, means vhingedly connecting the side ends of the front wall to corresponding ends of the rear wall, vertical hinge scores provided on the front wall adjacent the side ends thereof for facilitating the flat folding of the front wall relative to the rear wall, an upper semi-circular shaped panel having its straight side hingedly connected to the inner side of the rear wall a substantial distance below the top edge thereof, a semi-circular shaped lower panel having its straight side edge hingedly connected to the inner side of the rear wall adjacent the bottom thereof, a connecting bracing panel having its ends respectively hingedly connectedrto the free front curved edges of the against the rear wall when the display receptacle is collapsed, the upper and lower panels being unfoldable to a substantially horizontal position at right angle to the rear wall when the display receptacle is set up to flex the front wall outwardly into semi-circular shape under tension by frictional engagement of the free curved edges of the upper and lower panels therewith, and stop members provided on the inner side of the front wall on which the upper panel rests when in unfolded position, the upper panel when in horizontal position and the upper portions of the front and rear walls cooperating to provide a merchandise display bin. Y

3. A collapsible display receptacle as set forth in claim 2, in which each stop member comprises a strip of flexible cardboard disposed transversely of the front wall on the inner side thereof and having its ends flxedly secured to the front walls and being foldable flatly thereagainst when the display receptacle is collapsed and being flexed inwardly by the outward flexing of the front wall when the display receptacle is in set up position.

4. A collapsible display device comprising a tubular body having a flat rigid rear wall and a flexible cardboard front wall of a width greater than the width of the rear wall with its side ends hingedly connected to the corresponding ends of the rear wall, and a foldable U-shaped bracing member having its terminal ends hingedly connected to the inner side of the rear wall and foldable `flat against the rear wall when the device is in collapsed position and unfoldable to flex the front wall outwardly when unfolded to set up position and for holding the front wall under tension in outwardly flexed position.

5. A collapsible display receptacle including a rigid rectangular rear wall, a normally flat flexible cardboard front wall having its side ends hingedly connected to the rear wall and flatly foldable against the rear wall when the device is in collapsed position and being capable of outward flexing movement away from said rear wall, a combined shelf and brace panel hingedly connected to the inner side of the'rear wall and swingable to a substantially horizontal position to flex the front wall outwardly by frictional engagement of the front free edge of the panel with the inner side of the front Wall, and a normally flat cardboard strip having its ends secured to the inner side of the front Wall on a plane opposite the hinge connection between the shelf panel and the rear wall, the length of the cardboard strip extending in the direction of flex of the front wall whereby the strip will flex inwardly upon outward flexing of the front wall to provide a rest on which the shelf panel restsr when the device is in set up position.

6. A collapsible display receptacle comprising a at rigid rectangular rear wall, a normally flat flexible rectangular front wall of a width greater than the width of the rear wall, hinge means connecting the side ends of the front Wall to the corresponding ends of the rear wall, upper and lower semi-circular shaped bracing panels hingedly connected to the inner side of the rear wall in spaced apart relation, a connecting panel having its ends respectively hingedly connected to the semi-circular shaped panels whereby manual swinging movement of the upper semicircular shaped panel to a substantially horizontal position will cause the lower semi-circular shaped panel to move to a corresponding horizontal position and cause the free edges of both semi-circular shaped panels to forcibly engage the front wall and flex the front wall to a forwardly bowed shape under tension and frictionally hold the same under tension, and stop means for limiting the swinging movement of the semicircular shaped panels to horizontal position.

` CHARLES J. BACON. 

